Emmanuel Cleaver, from MO, is telling us that the
Traditional Plans is looking at ONE issue and overlooking many other social/ethical
issues that are at least as crucial as the issue of homosexuality: the racial
inequalities that evidence themselves in disproportionate incarcerations and gun
violence, the matter of divorce among clergy (which is clearly discussed by
Jesus while homosexuality is not), the fact that gender and race plays a part
in appointments and episcopal elections, and “and African-American bishop being
forced to retire under the guise of ineffectiveness when there are many bishops
who are ineffective and some who should not have been elected to begin with…”
If we are going to get “biblical,” as the supporters of this
plan claim, let’s get real biblical,
remembering that Jesus fed all the people, not just the 5000 men who were
counted, but also the women and children who went uncounted. We are in this
General Conference not counting many
of God’s children who are beloved by Jesus, too, while we are paying attention
to a very small part of the whole counsel of God. It is a live question as to
why this, so passionately and so much, when other issues that are clear are
more clearly disregarded in practice.
Mark Holland says that the TP is elevating The Discipline above the Bible, and that
we are paying attention to a few parts of the text, while bishops are guilty of
divorce, and members of the bar are divorced, and we are neglecting the
weightier matters of justice and mercy…and he is determined to move to amend every
piece of the TP until the monster trucks roll in and we will not finish and not
be certified…
The chair cut off Mr. Holland’s message.
The University Senate, in the person of Kim Ingram, representing
the seminaries of the UMC, are saying that a generation of young UM ministers
will be lost and that seminaries may even pull-out.
Gregory Gross, a gay deacon, is saying, “let’s approve the amendment”
and investigate ALL the members of the Board of Ordained Ministry, all the
bishops, all the officers… Have you really followed ALL the book of Discipline? If you are going after me,
you need to go after everyone.
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